A few Saturdays ago, Nancy and I visited a local farmer’s market. There wasn’t much produce to speak of, this late in the year, but I was delighted to find someone shelling black-eyed peas!
Instantly, I went back to my boyhood, sitting on a farmhouse porch with my grandmother. We both had a bucket of unshelled black-eyes and a bowl to put the final product in.
Grandmother instructed me to shell several pods and then break one into small pieces, or snaps—to mix in with the peas. “Just keep doing that until your bucket’s empty,” she said.
But I was a hyper nine-year-old and quickly became bored. So, I came up with an ingenious plan: shell one pod and turn one into snaps, and keep doing that until my bucket was empty.
My maternal forebearer quickly realized something was amiss. She looked into my bowl and said “You have too many snaps!”
Jesus Christ’s closest friends had a moment like this. While he was up on a mountain, with Peter, James and John, his other disciples were unable to drive a demonic spirit out of a young boy.
Long story short, Jesus sends the demon packing and restores the lad to health. Later, His disciples ask him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive the demon out?”
This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting.
Jesus—Mark 9:29 (NIV)
Here’s my paraphrase: “Gentlemen, you have too many snaps! You’re not taking the time with God you need.”
Kind reader, has a lack of spiritual discipline ever kept you from God’s best? I confess, it has for me.
Back on the porch—after my scolding—grandmother handed me her bowl of shelled peas. “It should look like this,” she said, matter of factly.
Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did
1 John 2:6 (NIV)
Thank you for reading. 🙏❤️ prayers and love.
Davids Daily Dose 
Comments
41 responses to “Too Many Snaps”
Our favorite flavors at the time where German chocolate cake and Strawberry cheesecake. I’m still playing WordPress catchup after spending a week at my childhood home with family. I haven’t gotten to Gary’s post yet, I might have to skip ahead a few days to read it. Give Cooper a few treats from me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Shelling peas for 💰. Now, this may have been a difference maker for me! It would have doubtless cured my boredom.
I can just see you and your brother on your bikes, racing each other to the dairy store for 🍦 ice cream!
I get the feeling the disciples (in the story) didn’t realize their lack of spiritual power until it was too late.
Our blogger friend Gary Fultz said on his site today, “How does a bridge fall down? Very slowly, and then all at once.”
The unexamined Christian life is a rickety bridge, indeed. But I’m starting to write another post—here and now.☺️
Thank you for sharing, Beth. Doggy hugs to Adi and Summer. 🐾🐾🐾🐾
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow David! You never cease to amaze me with your connections. I wish this one could be written into the study notes of my Bible for this passage because it explains a complex text so well. (On a side note we kids would receive 5 cents for every 1 cup of peas we hulled. Once 50 cents worth was hulled, my younger brother and I would get our “pay,” hop on our bikes, and ride the two miles along country roads to the nearest dairy farm market where we’d each buy a double dip ice cream cone.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I think black-eyes like hot temps and sandy soil. After the dust-bowl days of the 1930’s the federal government paid farmers (on the Great Plains) to grow them—to replenish nitrogen in the soil. This meant folks could pick them for free. It was still a hot, dirty job. But grandmother said canned black-eyes peas got you through the winter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh ya. I relate. I never got to shell black eyed peas but just regular ones and mom wanted only peas. I relate too well to being in a hurry with God..way too well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Tina, for your thoughtful and encouraging reply to my post. It warms MY heart when someone finds strength in God from something I wrote. I never know how what He puts on my heart will land with my readers; it’s truly an act of faith to hit publish. His best to you, and thanks again for sharing!
LikeLike
Your post made me smile. It’s a beautiful vision of spending time with family–the simple act of shelling peas together. Maybe a boring task for a 9 year old, but I can tell that is a beautiful memory that has stayed with you. I have very few memories of my grandpa as he passed away when I was really young, but I do have a memory of him teaching me to shell peas. We hold onto these memories because they mean something to us. They are treasures. If we saw God the very same way spending time with him wouldn’t be seen as a chore or a bore, instead it would become such a loving memory. Thanks for warming my heart with your post David and igniting a spark in my heart to appreciate quality time with the Lord. Well done! Be blessed. 🙂
LikeLike
Exactly. There are no short cuts to fellowship with God.
Thank you for your contributions, Matt! God bless
LikeLike
Being empowered for ministry requires time with God, fellowship with God. In Luke 5 we see that Jesus spent time alone with the Father-But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. If Jesus needed time alone with the Father, how much more do we need to?
LikeLiked by 1 person
“A beautiful bowl of heavenly beans.” I love it, brother! You’re spot on. God never hurries—He’s gonna be up all night anyway. 😊 His best you and the Kearns clan this Lord’s day. Thanks for checking in!
LikeLiked by 1 person
How often we are in a big hurry when it comes to our time with God; if only we would be patient in His Word and in prayer, what a beautiful bowl of Heavenly beans we would have! Great post brother, God bless you and Nancy this Lord’s Day 🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, brother. God Bless!
LikeLike
Such a great example David, thanks for sharing
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed it is, and indeed it does. Thank you for reading and commenting, Manu. God Bless!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Spiritual discipline is so important. It helps Keep us attuned to God. A good reminder David.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Andy B.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great analogy
Andy B
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me three!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great memories, indeed! There are so many lessons to be learned on a farm. I’m only one generation away—it’s still in my blood. Thank you for reading and commenting. God Bless!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for always sharing such encouragement, Manette Kay. Frankly, I often feel too frazzled to spend the necessary time in Bible study, prayer, and Christian fellowship. Yet it’s the “want to” that keeps me going. God Bless you, sister!
LikeLiked by 1 person
David, I see in the comments where you said, “Jesus and grandmother were good friends.” Your posts are a testament that Jesus and David are good friends. You hear Him speaking to you in everyday ordinary life. That only occurs by having an intimate relationship with Jesus. Thanks for letting us in on those special moments.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for a wonderful and timely post! I needed this today. And I have snapped many a green bean with my grandmother on her front porch. Great memories, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad to hear about your hearing aid success! Definitely a life changer for me, but yeah, not a total problem solver. As long as I keep them maintained every few weeks, though, they are awesome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I want that to be said of me too! Jesus and I were good friends!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You said it better than I could, SimplyB. Thanks!
BTW, I love my new hearing aids. They don’t solve all my hearing issues, but they really help!
Blessings!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was probably both of them that said, “Oh snap!” Jesus and grandmother were good friends. Yep, it’s hard to beat hot beans and corn bread. Thank you for sharing. God Bless!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love black eyed peas and hot fresh out of the oven corn bread! Yum! So Jesus told His disciples, “Oh snap?!” Or was that your grandma?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a good post. No instant potatoes or microwave shortcuts in God’s plan for our spiritual food. Thanks for the good reminder today.
LikeLiked by 2 people
🥁buh dump dump. Good one!
I don’t feel like I spend enough time focused on God either. Life sometimes gets in the way. Yet it shouldn’t. Thank you, and God Bless!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I grew up eating black-eyed peas. But not the frozen ones from the store. My grandmother’s canned ones were the best! Thank you, Petrina. Stayed blessed, as well!
LikeLike
Amen, David!
And we have something in common…I think black eyed peas are great! Stay blessed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Food for thought seems like the appropriate comment here 🙂 But in all seriousness, your post challenges me about how little focused time I give to just waiting on God, and listening for what HE wants me to hear. Thanks for the jolt!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t fast much, either, Betty. It’s interesting that not all manuscripts contain that reference. I suppose the point is how much are we tending to our spiritual health. Thank you for stopping by!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice post, David. A good reminder to be disciplined – which takes time and prayer. Your post also mentions fasting; that is something I don’t think much about. Your post also reminds me of my Grandma. She taught me many things, and her faith inspires me still. Enjoy your day!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Me too! I struggle with them, too. Right now, one of them is eating too much ice cream. Thanks for sharing! God Bless.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Rainer. Me too! Enjoy your weekend brother.
We’re finally getting a soaking rain a few hours up north. I hope Big D is getting some of this. God Bless!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes, I’ve had too many snaps more times than I can count. Working on that even now, in fact. Thank you for this great post and reminder!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is an excellent story that helps one consider our ways! Sometimes I have way too many snaps!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Bridget. I hope you have a great weekend too! Thank you for stopping by. God Bless!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great story. It’s amazing how God can teach us something in every situation. I will remind myself not to have too many snaps! 😁 Thanks, David! Have a good weekend.
LikeLiked by 1 person